Mobile Man of the Month
I was watching Letterman last night (because he is by far the superior of late night talk show hosts) and he interviewed Michael Douglas as his first guest. In the conversation Douglas mentioned some awards that he had won like oscars or something and also an award as "Mobile Man of the Month" when he worked at a gas station in his early twenties. Letterman made some sarcastic remark about how far Douglas had journeyed from "Mobile Man of the Month" to now being awarded in Hollywood. First that conversation made me laugh, because sometimes I cant believe that I live in a society so wrapped up in awards and recognition. Then it made me cry because there was probably some guy sitting at home watching the same Letterman episode I was, with his "Mobile Man of the Month" award proudly displayed as one of his finer accomplishments, feeling a sense of loss as that award was publicly demeaned.
It is a sad truth that we live in an American society that seems determined to tangibly represent a person's value to society in awards, money, publicity, and decoration. It is also true that as a Christian I am called to live according to a different plan. The fruits that I hope to bear throughout my life will never be recognized on the Letterman show. I'll probably never receive a golden statue or trophy for living the life I feel God has planned for me. That is certainly ok with me because the recognition from my peers seems rather meaningless in the actions that I take which are truly for Him. I just wish that our society as a whole could move more towards that system of operation. Then maybe we wouldn't have to worry about homeless people dying because of hunger on the streets or sick children unable to receive medical attention because their parents cant afford the monthly premiums. I'm not saying I have the solution to poverty in the United States. I'm just saying that this system of valuing only the ones who have the biggest wallets or the most decorated trophy cases is truly misguided.
It is a sad truth that we live in an American society that seems determined to tangibly represent a person's value to society in awards, money, publicity, and decoration. It is also true that as a Christian I am called to live according to a different plan. The fruits that I hope to bear throughout my life will never be recognized on the Letterman show. I'll probably never receive a golden statue or trophy for living the life I feel God has planned for me. That is certainly ok with me because the recognition from my peers seems rather meaningless in the actions that I take which are truly for Him. I just wish that our society as a whole could move more towards that system of operation. Then maybe we wouldn't have to worry about homeless people dying because of hunger on the streets or sick children unable to receive medical attention because their parents cant afford the monthly premiums. I'm not saying I have the solution to poverty in the United States. I'm just saying that this system of valuing only the ones who have the biggest wallets or the most decorated trophy cases is truly misguided.
posted by carlymarie | 11:30 AM
1 Comments:
You sure it's not "Mobil Man of the Month?" Cause it's a gas station and... well... anyway. I'm just saying... ;)
Anywho, you're right though. I was talking to our store's security guard tonight and he mentioned he used to work for the Sherrif's Department and his sole job was to be on-call to tell people of a loved one's death. He told a few stories, including telling a single mom about the death of her 18 year old son. As he spoke I knew what I was hearing was real... not just that it really happened but that it was significant. Significant in a way that transcends what we normally think of as reality. It was realer than the real stuff we usually deal with. Most of that is going in my blog for tomorrow. Maybe I should written that before I commented on your blog. Okay, I mean, security guard = real... fame and money and "prestige" = something less real. Far less real.
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